The Use of Mobile Software for Real-Time, Secure, Team-Based Procurement and Transplantation Team Communication to Improve the Deceased Donor Organ Transplantation Process
HealthTech Solutions, Inc., Coralville, IA
Meeting: 2019 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: D6
Keywords: Donation, Graft survival, Kidney/liver transplantation, Procurement
Session Information
Session Name: Poster Session D: Quality Assurance Process Improvement & Regulatory Issues
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Session Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Presentation Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Hall C & D
*Purpose: Deceased donor organ (DDO) transplantation is an effective cure for patients suffering from organ failure. Organ transplantation is cost-effective, provides a significant survival benefit, and improves life for these patients. One limitation on organ allocation, procurement, and transplantation is the coordination/communication among procurement and transplant teams, which is what we have provided a solution to.
*Methods: Researchers developed real-time mobile messaging software (APP) specifically designed for DDO coordination processes. The APP was tested at three transplant centers (TC) and one organ procurement organization (OPO) for all imported and local DDOs from 2017Q2-2018Q2. An independent company, Relational Coordination (RC) Analytics, surveyed APP users and analyzed the report of organ offer (ROO) data from the past seven years including the intervention year for historical comparison.
*Results: APP users were in five groups; eight surgeons, 16 TC coordinators, 15 OPO coordinators, four HLA lab technicians, and 15 other support staff. They sent >8,000 messages during 100 DDO offers evaluated and in 58 transplant operations. APP users surveyed; 86% reported a reduction in redundant phone calls, 93% reported increased clinical productivity, 79% reported having up-to-date information at any given time during cases, and zero users reported negative effects from the APP. RC Analytics measured meaningful increases in RC scores between APP user groups compared to non-APP users, in all RC dimensions in both within and between groups; frequent, timely, accurate, and problem-solving communication, shared goals and knowledge, and mutual respect. Regional DDO offers acceptance increased (+2%) and delayed graft function reduced (-36%). Additionally, DDO offer evaluation time was reduced significantly (-50%). Compared to the last three-year average, the study period observed an increase (+35%) in overall kidney transplant volume.
*Conclusions: The use of APP was correlated with a significant improvement in the coordination of organ transplants and increased the team cohesiveness among OPOs and TCs for import and local DDO offers that may have led to shorter offer evaluation times, fewer delayed graft functions post-transplant, and an overall increase in organs ultimately transplanted.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Pahl E. The Use of Mobile Software for Real-Time, Secure, Team-Based Procurement and Transplantation Team Communication to Improve the Deceased Donor Organ Transplantation Process [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2019; 19 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/the-use-of-mobile-software-for-real-time-secure-team-based-procurement-and-transplantation-team-communication-to-improve-the-deceased-donor-organ-transplantation-process/. Accessed December 11, 2024.« Back to 2019 American Transplant Congress